FOR: CONTINUING THE OFFICE OF FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES AND THE INDIANA COMMISSION ON COMMUNITY SERVICE AND VOLUNTEERISM AND RESCINDING PRIOR EXECUTIVE ORDER

TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS MAY COME, GREETINGS.

WHEREAS, Hoosiers are a dedicated and selfless people who have a long and proud tradition of helping their neighbors and those less fortunate than themselves;

WHEREAS, committed volunteers in faith-based and community-based organizations bring unique skills, services, and resources to bear on the struggles faced by Hoosier families;

WHEREAS, volunteerism and community service are recognized as a means to empower citizens in their own communities and to further State and community problem-solving;

WHEREAS, there are many opportunities for faith-based and community-based organizations to partner with government entities to deliver services more effectively than either can do alone;

WHEREAS, these opportunities represent an avenue toward addressing many of the State's unmet educational, human, public safety, and environmental needs and expanding the options available for enhancing the quality of life for all Hoosiers;

WHEREAS, many beneficial opportunities may be lost if faith-based and community-based groups are not aware of opportunities to participate with state government in serving Hoosiers, or are not equipped to participate on a level playing field, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in partnering or contracting with government entities for the delivery of services that serve a valid government purpose;

WHEREAS, similarly, many beneficial opportunities may be lost if state government does not make efforts to reach out and share information about opportunities to faith-based and community-based providers or to secure and direct federal and state funding to them or assist them in identifying and applying for discretionary federal and state grants;

WHEREAS, government may neither advance nor inhibit religious expression, nor endorse any particular type of religion over non-religion, but must not discriminate against the provision of services by faith-based or community-based providers who are otherwise qualified to provide services;

WHEREAS, it is beneficial to encourage communication between state government and faith-based and community-based organizations, recognizing the importance of sharing information about and encouraging the best practices of successful faith-based and community-based programs;

WHEREAS, the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (the Act) calls for the support and collaboration of federal, state, and local programs and agencies to build on existing organizational structures and expand full-time and part-time service opportunities for all citizens, and makes federal funding available under the National and Community Service State Grant Program;

WHEREAS, Hoosiers can benefit from a comprehensive and coordinated effort to improve and strengthen the State's volunteerism and community service infrastructure, maximize the utilization of available resources, and cultivate volunteer service opportunities that address the State's pressing needs; and

WHEREAS, this effort should be facilitated by a program having a position of prominence in direct relationship to the Office of the Governor.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Michael R. Pence, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Indiana, do hereby order that:

1. The Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI) created under Executive Order 05-16 shall be continued.

2. The OFBCI shall have a Director, who shall be appointed by the Governor and serve in the Governor's cabinet at the pleasure of the Governor.

3. The OFBCI shall have a direct relationship to the Office of the Governor. The Director of the OFBCI shall be authorized and directed to organize the OFBCI in such manner as the Director deems necessary or appropriate to achieve the objectives set forth in this Executive Order.

4. The OFBCI shall:

a. apply for funding to the Corporation for National and Community Service and other entities that administer federal grants to support the objectives established by OFBCI for faith-based and community-based programs;

b. provide to all applicants under the National and Community Service State Grant Program and other federal programs the services required by, and select grantees under, such guidelines as may be specified by those federal programs and applicable law;

c. work closely with faith-based and community-based groups, charitable organizations, private charities, voluntary associations, educational entities, and other nonprofit service organizations to promote volunteerism and community service and to assist them in identifying and applying for discretionary federal grants;

d. provide technical assistance, education, information, and other support to such groups and organizations to improve and strengthen the State's volunteerism and community service infrastructure;

e. promote innovative and model programs and initiatives and share best practices among such groups and organizations; and

f. coordinate OFBCI activities with those of any federally administered service programs to ensure that services are not duplicated.

5. The Indiana Commission on Community Service and Volunteerism (ICCSV), reaffirmed by Executive Order 08-02, is continued under the OFBCI.

6. The ICCSV shall consist of members who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields, and who share the common goals of encouraging community service and volunteer participation as a means of community and state problem-solving.

a. Members of the ICCSV shall be appointed on a bipartisan basis. Not more than fifty percent of the ICCSV plus one member may be from the same political party. To the extent possible, it shall be balanced according to race, ethnicity, age, disability, and gender characteristics.

b. The Governor shall appoint members to the ICCSV for three-year terms. Current members shall retain membership until expiration of their terms.

c. Not more than 25 percent of the ICCSV members may be employees of state government, though additional state agency representatives may sit on the ICCSV as non-voting, ex officio members.

d. Vacancies among the members shall be filled by the Governor to serve for the remainder of the vacated term.

e. Members of the ICCSV are entitled to reimbursement for expenses necessarily incurred in performing ICCSV duties as permitted by guidelines issued by the State Budget Agency.

f. The ICCSV shall consist of no fewer than 15 and no more than 25 voting members, including:

i. an individual with expertise in the educational, training, and developmental needs of youth, particularly disadvantaged youth;

ii. an individual with expertise in promoting service volunteerism among older adults;

iii. a representative of community-based agencies or organizations in the State;

iv. the superintendent of the Indiana Department of Education, or the superintendent's designee;

v. a representative of local labor organizations in the State;

vi. a representative of business;

vii. an individual between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, who is a participant or supervisor in a volunteer or service program;

viii. a representative of local government;

ix. a representative of the Corporation for National and Community Service as a non-voting, ex officio member;

x. a representative of the grant-making community, i.e. private, public, corporate, community or family foundation;

xi. a representative of the Volunteer Center network; and

xii. a representative of the Indiana Volunteers of Active Disasters.

g. In addition, the ICCSV may include:

i. members selected from among local educators;

ii. members selected from among experts in the delivery of educational, human, public safety, or environmental service to communities and persons;

iii. representative of Native American tribes;

iv. members selected from among out-of-school youth or other youth at risk; and

v. representatives of entities that received assistance under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. Section 4950 et seq.).

h. The Chair of the ICCSV shall be elected by voting members of the commission. Additional officers of the ICCSV may be selected by the duly appointed members according to the by-laws established by the ICCSV.

7. The ICCSV shall:

a. be responsive to the guidelines and requests from the Corporation for National and Community Service;

b. select grantees under guidelines specified by the National Corporation;

c. apply to the National Corporation for funding in support of the Corporation's strategic plan and the priorities of the Governor;

d. coordinate ICCSV activities with those of any federally administered service program such as VISTA and Older American Volunteer Programs to ensure that the services are complementary, and not duplicated; and

e. provide all applicants services required by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993.

8. The ICCSV shall meet as determined by the duly appointed members according to the by-laws established by the ICCSV.

9. Executive Order 13-08 is rescinded and declared null and void.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I, Michael R. Pence, have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Indiana on this 14th day of January, 2013.